Registered agent rules,state by state.
Who can serve, whether you can be your own agent, and what each state charges to switch.
Checked against official state sources on . How we verify.
Every LLC must name a registered agent: a person or company with a physical street address in the state, available during business hours to accept lawsuits and official notices. The rule is universal. The details aren't.
Our research confirms you can act as your own agent in 40 of 51 jurisdictions, as long as you meet the address and availability rules. Changing agents later costs anywhere from $0 in Arkansas to $100 in Alabama.
- Self-serve confirmed
- 40 of 51
- Lowest change fee
- $0 (Arkansas)
- Highest change fee
- $100 (Alabama)
- PO boxes allowed
- None
All 51 jurisdictions
| State | Who can serve | Self allowed | Change fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Physical Alabama street address required. | Yes | $100 |
| Alaska | Must maintain a registered agent with a physical Alaska address. | Yes | $25 |
| Arizona | Termed a Statutory Agent. Must be a resident or authorized entity with an Arizona street address. | Check | $10 |
| Arkansas | Physical Arkansas address required. | Yes | $0 |
| California | Must be an individual residing in California or a registered corporate agent. The address must be a physical street address, not a PO box. | Yes | $20 |
| Colorado | A registered agent with a physical Colorado address is required. | Yes | $10 |
| Connecticut | Physical Connecticut street address (no PO Boxes) required to be maintained at all times. | Yes | Varies |
| Delaware | Physical Delaware street address required. | Yes | $50 |
| District of Columbia | Physical D.C. street address is mandatory. | Yes | $50 |
| Florida | Must maintain a registered agent with a physical Florida street address. | Yes | $25 |
| Georgia | Mandates a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. | Yes | $0 |
| Hawaii | Strictly mandates a registered agent with a physical street address within the state; PO boxes are prohibited. | Yes | $26 |
| Idaho | Physical Idaho street address required (no P.O. boxes). | Yes | $0 |
| Illinois | A registered agent with a physical Illinois street address is required. | Yes | $25 |
| Indiana | Requires a registered agent with an Indiana street address. | Check | Varies |
| Iowa | Physical Iowa street address must be continuously maintained. | Yes | $0 |
| Kansas | Termed Resident Agent. Must have physical Kansas street address (no P.O. box) and be available during normal business hours. | Yes | $30 |
| Kentucky | Physical Kentucky street address required. | Yes | $10 |
| Louisiana | Physical Louisiana street address required. Agent must sign a notarized affidavit of acceptance on the Initial Report. | Yes | $30 |
| Maine | Must maintain a registered agent with a physical street address within the state. | Yes | $35 |
| Maryland | Referred to as a Resident Agent. Must have a physical address in Maryland. | Check | $25 |
| Massachusetts | Known locally as a Resident Agent. Must have a physical street address in Massachusetts (no PO boxes). | Check | $25 |
| Michigan | Referred to as a Resident Agent, this individual or entity must have a physical Michigan address. | Check | $5 |
| Minnesota | Registered office (physical street address in MN, no PO Box alone) is required, but naming a specific registered agent is entirely optional. | Yes | $55 |
| Mississippi | Physical Mississippi street address required. | Yes | $10 |
| Missouri | Must continuously maintain a registered agent with a Missouri street address. | Check | $10 |
| Montana | A registered agent with a physical Montana street address is required. Both residents and authorized business entities qualify. | Yes | $0 |
| Nebraska | Physical Nebraska street address required, available during normal business hours. | Yes | $25 |
| Nevada | Individual or business entity with a physical street address in Nevada, no P.O. boxes. | Yes | $60 |
| New Hampshire | Must maintain a registered agent with a physical New Hampshire street address (no PO boxes) who is available during standard business hours. | Yes | $17 |
| New Jersey | Physical street address within the state, PO boxes alone are insufficient. | Yes | $25 |
| New Mexico | Physical New Mexico street address required, P.O. boxes explicitly banned. | Yes | $20 |
| New York | By default, the New York Secretary of State acts as the statutory agent for service of process. An LLC may optionally designate an additional specific registere | Check | $30 |
| North Carolina | A physical North Carolina address is required for the registered agent. | Check | $5 |
| North Dakota | Physical street address in the state required; PO box is insufficient. | Yes | $10 |
| Ohio | Requires a Statutory Agent with an Ohio street address. | Yes | $25 |
| Oklahoma | Physical Oklahoma street address required (no PO Box), office must be open during standard business hours. | Yes | $26 |
| Oregon | Registered agent must be maintained. | Yes | $0 |
| Pennsylvania | Referred to as the Registered Office. Must maintain a physical PA street address, no PO boxes, or contract with a Commercial Registered Office Provider. | Check | Varies |
| Rhode Island | Resident Agent must have a physical Rhode Island street address and be available during business hours. | Yes | $20 |
| South Carolina | Must continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in South Carolina. | Check | $15 |
| South Dakota | Physical South Dakota address (no PO boxes) required. Individual resident or commercial entity can serve. | Yes | $10 |
| Tennessee | Physical address in Tennessee is required (no PO boxes). | Check | $20 |
| Texas | Requires a continuous registered agent with a physical street address in the state, no standalone PO boxes. The LLC cannot be its own agent. | Yes | Varies |
| Utah | Physical Utah address required. | Yes | $17 |
| Vermont | Agent with a physical Vermont street address is mandatory. | Yes | $35 |
| Virginia | Physical Virginia address required. | Yes | Varies |
| Washington | Physical Washington address is mandatory. | Yes | Varies |
| West Virginia | Secretary of State acts as the default agent, though listing a private agent is highly advised. If appointed, the agent must maintain a physical West Virginia s | Yes | $15 |
| Wisconsin | Physical street address in Wisconsin required, no PO Box alone, registered office must be identical to business office. | Yes | $10 |
| Wyoming | Physical Wyoming street address required, no P.O. boxes, drop boxes, or mail-forwarding services. | Yes | $5 |
Questions people ask
Does every state require a registered agent?
Yes. All 51 jurisdictions require an LLC to keep a registered agent with a physical street address in the state.
Can I be my own registered agent?
In most states, yes. We confirmed it in 40 of 51 jurisdictions. Your address becomes public record and you need to be there during business hours.
Which state charges the most to change registered agents?
Alabama, at $100, based on our latest check of each state's fee schedule.
How much does a registered agent service cost?
Commercial services charge a yearly fee that the state does not regulate. See our registered agent price comparison.